Denmark/Norway money question

[bode]

Stupid question. My Visa debit card is chipped and I have to use a pin to get cash. Would that work?

 

[MHTorringjan]

My wife and I did the Baltic cruise in 2016 and did as many of the PP's described, we took a manageable amount of cash for each port, something like 50-100 bucks per port, but used our credit cards for the purchases we could (because ours didn't have foreign transaction fees, hooray!). The only place we really ran into problems was in Copenhagen because we were there for multiple days before boarding the ship and ended up running out of cash at some point (mostly it was more convenient, not that all the places didn't take our cards). Luckily, we were also able to take money out at ATM's when we needed a cash infusion.

Most places were able to handle our cards even though they weren't chipped yet (one came right after we got back, natch), they just had to use different machines and printed out receipts to sign. Just might want to give them the heads up when you hand it to them (and thankfully there isn't a significant language barrier in most of these countries in the larger stores).

That being said, we ended up buying too much currency for Norway and now have a decent number of krona just sitting around in my desk at work because it wasn't enough to worry about changing back (something like 20 bucks in krona, no biggie), so make sure you budget and spend accordingly.

Anyway, may not be too useful, but just my two cents.

 

[MUN]

My wife and I did the Baltic cruise in 2016 and did as many of the PP's described, we took a manageable amount of cash for each port, something like 50-100 bucks per port, but used our credit cards for the purchases we could (because ours didn't have foreign transaction fees, hooray!). The only place we really ran into problems was in Copenhagen because we were there for multiple days before boarding the ship and ended up running out of cash at some point (mostly it was more convenient, not that all the places didn't take our cards). Luckily, we were also able to take money out at ATM's when we needed a cash infusion.

Most places were able to handle our cards even though they weren't chipped yet (one came right after we got back, natch), they just had to use different machines and printed out receipts to sign. Just might want to give them the heads up when you hand it to them (and thankfully there isn't a significant language barrier in most of these countries in the larger stores).

That being said, we ended up buying too much currency for Norway and now have a decent number of krona just sitting around in my desk at work because it wasn't enough to worry about changing back (something like 20 bucks in krona, no biggie), so make sure you budget and spend accordingly.

Anyway, may not be too useful, but just my two cents.

You need to go back to Norway and spend those krona!

 

[scgustafson]

Stupid question. My Visa debit card is chipped and I have to use a pin to get cash. Would that work?

Assuming you live in the US, you have a chip and sign card, where the PIN is for ATM use to withdraw money as a cash advanced (high interest rate). You can use it as a chip and sign in Europe with no issues.

 

[scgustafson]

For our last 3 DCL cruises in Europe: 12-night Med in June of 2014, 7-night Northern Europe in June of 2015, and 12-night British Isles in June of 2016, we have had no issues with our US-issued chip and sign credit card. First, ensure it has not foreign transactions fees, as those will add up to 3% on each transaction. Second, it worked fine in transportation kiosks, even in Copenhagen, as a chip and sign, it just automatically bypassed the PIN section and did not require a signature. Third, for street vendors, you will want local currency, I recommend getting it on the ship with US currency (so you will need that US currency to support that, or bring a check, which they will cash one-time for $200 at Guest Services) if you can wait that long. Otherwise, if you need local currency before you get to the ship, I would check with the larger branches of your bank to see what foreign currency they stock and get enough local bills to cover cab rides, quick meals, and street vendors until you can get to the ship to get more. Also, check with your bank to see what foreign ATM networks they work with and what rates/fees they charge for using them at the destination, but only use those ATMs.

 

[Geomom]

I just wanted to thank everyone on this thread, it's been very informative! Our 2018 Northern European cruise will be our first trip to Europe and I wasn't sure what to do for $/credit cards.

When we did the Alaska cruise out of Vancouver, we got Canadian cash from our bank..still have a lot, but we are in driving distance of Montreal/Quebec so we'll use it some day. I also didn't worry about the 3% foreign transaction fee on our credit card as the exchange rate was very much in our favor. (I did use Discover to book stuff online whenever it was accepted.) Definitely planning to get an 'accepted' no foreign transaction fee credit card before our 2018 cruise due to exchange rates in Europe.

 

[MUN]

I just wanted to thank everyone on this thread, it's been very informative! Our 2018 Northern European cruise will be our first trip to Europe and I wasn't sure what to do for $/credit cards.

When we did the Alaska cruise out of Vancouver, we got Canadian cash from our bank..still have a lot, but we are in driving distance of Montreal/Quebec so we'll use it some day. I also didn't worry about the 3% foreign transaction fee on our credit card as the exchange rate was very much in our favor. (I did use Discover to book stuff online whenever it was accepted.) Definitely planning to get an 'accepted' no foreign transaction fee credit card before our 2018 cruise due to exchange rates in Europe.

You want a credit card without a foreign transaction fee regardless of the exchange rates.

 

[Geomom]

You want a credit card without a foreign transaction fee regardless of the exchange rates.

I know. We have Discover which has no foreign transaction fees, but found out it wasn't widely accepted in Canada. Luckily the hotel accepted it as that was our biggest expense in Canada.

 

[Flossbolna]

The interesting thing is that my European chip and PIN card usually requires the PIN in the US as well. So, your US system is set up to take the PIN. On my recent trip I even surprised several cashiers that I just had to tap my card to pay. I guess the tapping is not common at all in the US?

 

[aggiedog]

You will be able to get local currency on the ship if you wish. We used ATM's when needing local currency, which was almost never on our Baltic cruise. One street vendor and a public restroom, both in Stockholm, required cash. Everything else, including street food carts, taxis, etc, everywhere else, took CC's. We had chip CC's, but were never asked for our PIN.

Check to see if your CC has a fee for using it at an ATM. Some have large fees.

Also be aware that it may be difficult to change money back once you get home. Most banks won't do it, or you'll have to do it at an international airport at horrible exchange rates. We found that out the hard way when dh got too many rubles on the ship.

 

[For the love of Pooh]

I have a world MasterCard with no foreign transaction fees but it doesn't have a chip. Will this be a problem in Copenhagen or Amsterdam? I had no trouble with it in Italy, Spain, or France a little over a year.

 

[Dug720]

I have a world MasterCard with no foreign transaction fees but it doesn't have a chip. Will this be a problem in Copenhagen or Amsterdam? I had no trouble with it in Italy, Spain, or France a little over a year.

I don't know if it would be a problem, but most banks I've dealt with are more than willing to make you a chip card. You just have to ask.

 

[aggiedog]

I'd just add that if you are going to change your CC out for one with a chip, do it well in advance of the trip in case of bad luck, etc. Our first set got lost in the mail. Then the next set got canceled as well, I think from miscommunication regarding the first set. We were only a week or two out from the trip before we had CC's that worked.

 

[linetbo]

I always exchanged mi dollars at USA airport before my flight, if I have money when I got back they change it without any extra charge.

 

[Hubie]

We each took a credit card, some American cash, 3000 DKK & 2000 NKK for our Norway cruise last year. We also had 76 Euros from a previous trip to Europe. I came home with 1200 DKK, but I'm returning to Copenhagen this June. It's good to have some local cash as coffee and a Danish will cost you 120 or more DKK or NKK. It's also easy to just get a little local currency on the ship the day before arriving at the next port.

 

[dinahfig]

We just got back from Europe. We didn't go to Norway but we did go to Copenhagen. Our cards worked for the most part but in Paris for some reason our Citicard did not work for our cab or to check the luggage at the airport. I ended up having to use a different card that charges int'l fees. And I had to use cash for the cab. Just make sure your credit card companies know you will be traveling. I would definitely get cash from both countries though just in case you need it.

 

[linetbo]

We are in Copenhagen right now, I have 2 credit cards which I called the banks and told them were I was going to be using it and one of them declined every transaction I made. Now I don't have cell phone to call to fight with them and only have one credit card. At the airport we change dollars to do and BOK, but Copenhagen its so expensive.